Political Science and Government at The University of Texas at El Paso

UTEP's political science graduates start well below typical earnings—at just $26,182, this lands in the bottom 5% nationally—but the program shows remarkable trajectory, with salaries jumping 48% to $38,690 by year four. That four-year mark exceeds both state and national medians, suggesting graduates need time to translate their degrees into career opportunities. Among Texas political science programs, this ranks squarely in the middle (25th percentile), trailing elite private schools by significant margins but serving a very different student population.

The $21,097 median debt is actually slightly lower than both state and Texas averages, and the 0.81 debt-to-earnings ratio—while concerning in year one—improves substantially as earnings grow. Given that 61% of UTEP students receive Pell grants, many come from families where any four-year degree represents economic mobility, even with these modest starting salaries.

The real question is whether your child can weather those first few years of very low earnings. If they need immediate income after graduation or are considering graduate school anyway, the slow start matters less. For families prioritizing affordability and eventual solid earnings over prestigious credentials or high starting salaries, UTEP delivers reasonable value—but only if you're prepared for a rocky financial start before the earnings trajectory kicks in.